A MAN who raped a 16-year-old girl in a “horrendous and terrifying” attack as she walked home from a New Year’s Eve party was yesterday jailed for seven years.

The teenager was set upon as she walked home from a night out with friends seeing in the New Year in Llandrindod Wells.

A court was told yesterday how Richard Waines, 29, dragged the girl down a river bank close to the centre of the Mid Wales town before sexually assaulting her.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, waded into the freezing river in a desperate bid to escape, but was dragged under the water before Waines continued his assault.

Jailing the defendant for seven years yesterday, Judge Eleri Rees paid tribute to the character of the victim but warned that Waines continued to represent a danger to the public in the light of the “horrendous, terrifying ordeal”.

“She is a resilient young lady but appearances can be deceptive,” she said, before telling Waines: “I am satisfied... that you are a significant risk of committing further serious specified offences and it is likely that members of the public would suffer significant serious harm.”

After the hearing, the girl’s family spoke of their determination to put the “tragic ordeal” behind them.

A statement read by DC Gill Witherstone on behalf of the family said: “This has been a very traumatic experience for the whole family.

“We are extremely proud of the courage and determination she has shown and we are now looking forward as a family to put the tragic ordeal behind us.”

David Pugh, prosecuting, told the court the teenage girl had been out celebrating the new year with friends at Llandrindod Wells nightspot The Venue.

She left with a friend at around 3.30am but the pair parted company just minutes from a mate’s home.

The court was told the victim had been on her mobile phone to her friend claiming that she was being followed when the line went dead.

At that point, Waines ran up behind her, grabbed her around her mouth and told her: “Shut up or I’ll cut your throat.”

He then dragged her down to the banks of the River Ithon, where he sexually assaulted her and threatened to drown her in the waters.

She managed to get up but as she tried to flee across the river, he followed her, pushing her down into the water.

He then left, after taking her mobile phone.

The girl then waded back over the river to raise the alarm.

Waines failed to return home to his partner and their child that night and slept rough, before returning to their home the next day to wash his mud-caked clothes.

The court heard that Waines, who admitted two counts of rape, had been out drinking at a local pub when the girl walked past him.

He had already told friends that he had gone out that night with the intention of robbing someone.

The court heard Waines had 15 court appearances for 27 offences, including offences violence and public order matters.

In 2007 he was convicted of a public order matter when he armed himself with two six-inch bladed knives, which he threatened to use against his mother if she approached him.

He was also convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm after following someone and assaulting him.

Geraint Jones, defending, asked the court to take into account his client’s guilty plea, and revealed that Waines had spent his childhood in care, and had displayed a tendency to act impulsively after consuming drink or drugs.

“It was clearly an horrific offence,” said Mr Jones.

“The victim appears to be a very well adjusted, resilient individual.

“He has expressed remorse and guilt.

“He appreciates that the effect of alcohol is an aggravating feature and it is in that context that it was a random, opportunistic attack.”

The court heard that although the teenage victim was a resilient and strong individual, there was no telling what the long-term effects of the assault would be.

A victim impact statement alluded to at court spoke of how she was no longer able to sleep alone and was afraid of sleeping in the dark, of how she felt unable to go out and socialise with friends and could not go out and feed the horses.

“She used to be a confident young lady but she is now fearful of people walking behind her,” said Mr Pugh.

Waines was given a 10-year extended sentence consisting of a seven-year custodial term with a three-year extended licence.